Education

Understanding gold karats: why 916 and 999 dominate

When you choose fine jewellery, the karat stamp is the most important number on it. It measures how many parts in 24 are pure gold. Pure gold is 24K; everything else is gold alloyed with other metals for strength and colour.

Western markets often favour 14K or 18K for durability. The Asian luxury market has long held 22K (916) and 24K (999) as the pinnacle of fine jewellery.

The allure of 916 gold

916 gold is 91.6% pure, alloyed with 8.4% copper or silver for structural strength. It strikes the balance between intricate workmanship and the deep, mesmerising yellow that lower karats cannot match. It is the gold standard for wedding jewellery and heirloom pieces across Asia.

The absolute purity of 999 gold

At 99.9% purity, 24K gold is as close to elemental gold as jewellery gets. It is exceptionally soft, so it takes masterful artisanship to shape into something wearable. Its colour is unmistakable: a rich, luminous, warm orange-yellow.

Because of its softness, 24K pieces are often kept for special occasions, and prized as liquid assets.

To wear 24K gold is to wear the earth’s rarest element in its most uncompromised form.

Why we work in 916 and 999

At Chempaka we specialise in 916 and 999 because we believe jewellery should be a triumph of design and a formidable store of wealth. When you buy high-karat gold, you make an investment that endures for generations.